Pushable optical connector with connector-integrated articulation

Abstract

An optical fiber connector sub-assembly for an optical fiber connector includes a ferrule configured to hold an optical fiber therein along an axis of the ferrule and a ferrule holder configured to hold the ferrule. The ferrule has an end face at which the optical fiber is terminated, and the ferrule holder includes a base in which the ferrule is configured to be seated. The sub-assembly includes a ferrule basket including an inner sleeve slidably coupled with an outer sleeve and configured to isolate a front end of the connector from a rear end of the connector such that the ferrule is isolated from movement of the rear end of the connector. The ferrule basket is configured to receive the ferrule holder therein.

1 . An optical fiber connector sub-assembly configured to isolate a front end of an optical fiber connector from a rear end of the optical fiber connector, comprising:
 first receiving means for receiving a ferrule holder that is configured to holde a ferrule;   second receiving means for receiving the ferrule holder;   wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means are for slidingly coupling with one another;   wherein a rearward facing surface of the first receiving means and a forward facing surface of the second receiving means are configured to receive biasing means there between;   wherein the ferrule holder and the second receiving means are configured to slidingly move relative to each other between predefined limits;   wherein the first receiving means includes first coupling means, and the second receiving means includes second means;   wherein the first coupling means and the second coupling means are for rotatingly fixing the first receiving means relative to the second receiving means so as to maintain a predetermined rotational orientation of the ferrule relative to the second receiving means; and   wherein the second receiving means is for coupling relative to the first receiving means so as to prevent a force applied to a rear end of the connector from moving the ferrule relative to another component from a first position to a second position, thereby preventing degradation of signal transmission of an optical fiber connector in response to said force.   
     
     
         2 . The optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first coupling means includes two first coupling features, the second coupling means includes two second coupling features, and the two first coupling features and the two second coupling features are disposed symmetrically on the first receiving means relative and the second receiving means, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second coupling means comprises a finger with a tab and the first coupling means comprises a slot; and wherein the finger is configured to bend radially inward when the tab is being inserted into the slot and to return toward an unstressed configuration after the tab is received in the slot. 
     
     
         4 . A Subscriber Connection (SC)-type optical fiber connector comprising:
 the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 1 ;   an inner housing configured to be fixedly connected to the first receiving means;   an outer housing;   wherein the inner housing is configured to include a portion that coaxially extends around a projecting portion of the ferrule to define a receptacle portion for a socket to receive the projecting portion of the ferrule;   wherein the biasing means is for biasing the projecting portion of the ferrule along a ferrule axis towards the receptacle portion of the inner housing;   wherein the first receiving means is for engaging within the outer housing; and   wherein the inner housing and the outer housing are structurally configured to move with respect to each other along an axis between limits defined by an interaction between the inner housing and the outer housing in order to provide SC-style push/pull engagement/disengagement with a mating optical fiber socket.   
     
     
         5 . The SC-type optical fiber connector of  claim 4 , wherein the ferrule is configured to be rotationally fixed with respect to the ferrule holder about a ferrule axis, and the ferrule holder is configured to be rotationally aligned by means of one or more rotational keys with respect to the outer housing so that the rotational orientation of the ferrule with respect to the outer housing can be set during assembly of the connector at one of one or more predefined rotational orientations. 
     
     
         6 . A Lucent Connection (LC)-type optical fiber connector comprising:
 the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 1 ;   a housing configured to be fixedly connected to the first receiving means;   wherein the housing comprises a portion that coaxially extends around a projecting portion of the ferrule to define a receptacle portion for a socket to receive the projecting portion of the ferrule;   wherein the biasing means is for biasing the projecting portion of the ferrule along a ferrule axis towards the receptacle portion of the housing; and   wherein the housing is configured to provide LC-style engagement/disengagement with a mating optical fiber socket.   
     
     
         7 . The LC-type optical fiber connector of  claim 6 , wherein the ferrule is configured to be rotationally fixed with respect to the ferrule holder about the ferrule axis, and the ferrule holder is configured to be rotationally aligned by means of one or more rotational keys with respect to the housing so that the rotational orientation of the ferrule with respect to the housing can be set during assembly of the connector at one of one or more predefined rotational orientations. 
     
     
         8 . An optical fiber connector sub-assembly configured to isolate a front end of an optical fiber connector from a rear end of the optical fiber connector, comprising:
 first receiving means for receiving a ferrule holder that is configured to holde a ferrule;   second receiving means for receiving the ferrule holder;   wherein the first receiving means and the second receiving means are for slidingly coupling with one another;   wherein a rearward facing surface of the first receiving means and a forward facing surface of the second receiving means are configured to receive biasing means there between; and   wherein the second receiving means is for coupling relative to the first receiving means so as to prevent a force applied to a rear end of the connector from moving the ferrule relative to another component from a first position to a second position, thereby preventing degradation of signal transmission of an optical fiber connector in response to said force.   
     
     
         9 . The optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising biasing means between the rearward facing surface of the first receiving means and the forward facing surface of the second receiving means. 
     
     
         10 . The optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first receiving means includes first coupling means for receiving second coupling means extending from a forward end of the second receiving means; and
 wherein the first coupling means and the second coupling means are for rotatingly fixing the first receiving means relative to the second receiving means.   
     
     
         11 . The optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first coupling means includes two first coupling features, the second coupling means includes two second coupling features, and the two first coupling features and the two second coupling features are disposed symmetrically on the first receiving means relative and the second receiving means, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second coupling feature comprises a finger with a tab and the first coupling feature comprises a slot; and wherein the finger is configured to bend radially inward when the tab is being inserted into the slot and to return toward an unstressed configuration after the tab is received in the slot. 
     
     
         13 . A Subscriber Connection (SC)-type optical fiber connector comprising:
 the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 8 ;   an inner housing configured to be fixedly connected to the first receiving means;   an outer housing;   biasing means;   wherein the inner housing is configured to include a portion that coaxially extends around a projecting portion of the ferrule to define a receptacle portion for a socket to receive the projecting portion of the ferrule;   wherein the biasing means is for biasing the projecting portion of the ferrule along a ferrule axis towards the receptacle portion of the inner housing;   wherein the first receiving means is configured to be engaged within the outer housing; and   wherein the inner housing and the outer housing are structurally configured to move with respect to each other along an axis between limits defined by an interaction between the inner housing and the outer housing in order to provide SC-style push/pull engagement/disengagement with a mating optical fiber socket.   
     
     
         14 . The SC-type optical fiber connector of  claim 13 , wherein the ferrule is configured to be rotationally fixed with respect to the ferrule holder about a ferrule axis, and the ferrule holder is configured to be rotationally aligned by means of one or more rotational keys with respect to the outer housing so that the rotational orientation of the ferrule with respect to the outer housing can be set during assembly of the connector at one of one or more predefined rotational orientations. 
     
     
         15 . A Lucent Connection (LC)-type optical fiber connector comprising:
 the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of  claim 8 ;   biasing means;   a housing configured to be fixedly connected to the first receiving means;   wherein the housing comprises a portion that coaxially extends around a projecting portion of the ferrule to define a receptacle portion for a socket to receive the projecting portion of the ferrule;   wherein the biasing means is for biasing the projecting portion of the ferrule along a ferrule axis towards the receptacle portion of the housing; and   wherein the housing is configured to provide LC-style engagement/disengagement with a mating optical fiber socket.   
     
     
         16 . The LC-type optical fiber connector of  claim 15 , wherein the ferrule is configured to be rotationally fixed with respect to the ferrule holder about the ferrule axis, and the ferrule holder is configured to be rotationally aligned by means of one or more rotational keys with respect to the housing so that the rotational orientation of the ferrule with respect to the housing can be set during assembly of the connector at one of one or more predefined rotational orientations.